Metabolic diseases such as obesity and type 2 diabetes have become one of the greatest global medical and social challenges in recent decades. Today, almost half a billion people worldwide live with diabetes - around a third of them are over 65 years old, but children and young people are also increasingly affected. By 2045, this figure is expected to rise further and reach well over 600 million people with the disease.

The gut microbiota - i.e. the entirety of microorganisms in the gut - influences the metabolism and the immune system in a variety of ways. Disruptions in this delicate balance are considered a key factor in the development of obesity, type 2 diabetes and related metabolic diseases in humans.
 
A newly created lectureship will investigate the details of these interactions between metabolism and the immune system, as well as the mechanisms that could be used to develop new microbiome-based strategies for preventing and treating overweight and obesity.